MARIA SHARAPOVA BLOG. MUTUA MADRID OPEN 2014.

After her first practice session in the Caja Mágica, last year’s Mutua Madrid Open runner-up spoke to SetBall TV to discuss her first impressions upon her return. 
Her confidence is sky high as she returns to Madrid having won her first tournament of the year in Stuttgart, and after losing last year’s final at the Mutua Madrid Open against Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova is confident she can go one better and take her first title from the tournament. 
The ex-world number 1 answered some questions for SetBall TV after finishing her first practice session on Centre Court – the Manolo Santana Stadium in the Caja Mágica
. 
 What are your first impressions on this latest visit to Madrid? 

 It’s always a little bit of an adjustment coming to a new tournament, but it’s one that I’ve had good success at in the last couple of years and played really good tennis and I hope that I can continue it and hopefully I can be the champion here. Last year you played in the final here. 

Do you think you can go one better and win the title this time? 
 That’s the goal. The year before I was in the semis and then last year I was in the final and my goal for this year is to try and win as many matches, and it’s a lot here, all the top girls will be here playing so it will be a challenge, that’s for sure. 

 You just won another tournament in Stuttgart. How do you feel about your season so far? 

 The first tournament on clay is always tough and I was really pushed in a lot of the matches that I played in, you know, I could have lost in the first rounds, and I was down in the final and I was able to get through them, and that builds confidence. I was able to spend a lot of time on the clay practicing, so I’m sure it’s great preparation for this tournament. 

After your first practice session, what do you think about the courts? 

 The court feels great. It’s obviously still a little bit early and the players are just coming in and it will be used more in the next couple of days but the clay looks good – and it’s red, so it’s nice!